Floribunda rose plant named `Wekcryreg`

ABSTRACT

A new variety of hybrid floribunda rose suitable for garden decoration, having flowers of ivory coloration with pink centers.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to a new and distinct variety of Floribunda rose.The varietal denomination of the new variety is `Wekcryreg`. It has asits seed parent the variety known as `Arobipy` (U.S. Plant Pat. No.6,714) and as its pollen parent the variety known as `Macyoumis`.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Among the features which distinguish the new variety from otherpresently available and known commercial rose cultivars are thefollowing combination of characteristics: its lighter colored zone onthe peduncle just below the hypanthium, its deeply colored innermostpetals and petaloids, its greenish coloration in the outer petals thatincreases as the petals age, its bright red styles and its extremelyprickly leaf rachis. The plant is a bushy upright growing plant,suitable for outdoor garden decoration.

Asexual reproduction of the new variety by budding as performed in KernCounty and Upland, Calif., shows that the foregoing and otherdistinguishing characteristics come true to form and are established andtransmitted through succeeding propagations. `Wekcryreg` may beasexually propagated by cuttings, budding or grafting.

COMPARISON WITH PARENTS

The new rose may be distinguished from its seed parent, `Arobipy` by thefollowing combination of characteristics: whereas `Wekcryreg` bearsmedium sized flowers of a white coloration with a few dark pink innerpetals, `Arobipy` bears significantly larger flowers of a pure whitecoloration. The mature growth habit of the seed parent is a tall uprightbush, whereas the mature growth habit of the new variety issignificantly shorter and may result in a more rounded bush.

The new variety may be distinguished from its pollen parent, `Macyoumis`by the following combination of characteristics: whereas `Wekcryreg`bears white flowers with a few dark pink inner petals, `Macyoumis` bearsflowers of a uniform pink coloration with a white reverse. The pollenparent bears flowers with about 25 petals, whereas the new variety bearsflowers of significantly more double petalage (about 34 to 42). Themature growth habit of `Macyoumis` is a very compact short bush, whereasthe mature growth habit of `Wekcryland` is signficantly larger in heightand diameter.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF ILLUSTRATION

The accompanying photograph illustrates specimens of the new variety andshows the flowering thereof from bud to full bloom depicted in color asnearly correct as it is possible to make in a color illustration of thecharacter. Throughout this specification, color values are based uponthe Colour Chart of The Royal Horticultural Society of London, England,except where common terms of color definition are employed.

DESCRIPTION OF THE NEW VARIETY

The following description is of rose plants of the new cultivar grownoutdoors in Upland, Calif. in the month of October. Phenotypicexpression may vary with environmental, cultural and climaticconditions, as well as differences in conditions of light and soil.

FLOWER

The new variety sometimes bears its flowers singly, usually in clustersof three to four or more per stem. Flowers are borne in irregular flatto somewhat rounded clusters on normal medium length stems (about 32 toabout 46 cms.). Outdoors, the plant blooms very abundantly and nearlycontinuously during the growing season. The flowers have a slight tea toapple-like fragrance.

BUD

The peduncle is about 3.5 to about 5 cms. in length, of slender toaverage caliper, and usually stiff. It is moderately smooth, with veryfew stipitate glands and numerous fine hairs. Peduncle color is between144A and 146A at the base, often lightening to between 145A and 151Cjust below the hypanthium. Hypanthium color is between 144A and 146A.

Before the calyx breaks, the bud is about 1.2 to about 1.5 cm. indiameter at the widest point, about 1.8 to about 2.2 cms. in length, andvery pointed to ovoid in shape. The surface of the bud bears fewstipitate glands and numerous fine hairs, usually with slender serrateto irregularly cut foliaceous parts extending beyond the tip of the budequal to 3/4 or more of its length. Bud color is between 144A and 146B.

The inner surface of the sepals is covered with fine wooly tomentum;sepal margins are lined with many stipitate glands and some slenderfoliaceous parts.

As the petals open (after the calyx breaks), the bud is about 1.4 toabout 1.8 cms. in diameter at the widest point, about 2.2 to about 2.6cms. in length, and very pointed to ovoid in form. The color of theunder surfaces of the newly opened petals is between 155D and 157Dsometimes finely edged with between 55B and 63C. The color of the uppersurfaces of the newly opened petals is between 155D and 56C sometimeswith finely edged with between 55B and 63C. At the point where the petalattaches, there is a moderately small zone of near 145B.

BLOOM

When fully open, the bloom ranges from about 7 to about 8.5 cms. indiameter. Petalage is fully double with about 34 to 42 petals and about3 to 7 petaloids arranged irregularly. When partially open, the bloomform is moderately high centered to somewhat cupped. The petals aresomewhat loosely spiraled with petal edges moderately reflexed outward.When fully open, the bloom form is more cupped to full. The petals aremore loosely cupped to undulated with petal edges rolled to veryreflexed outward.

PETALS

The substance of the petals is moderately heavy and moderately thick,with upper surfaces slightly satiny and under surfaces slightly shiny.The outer petals are nearly round to broadly obovate in shape withapices very rounded to sometimes slightly mucronate. The inner petalsare more obovate in shape with apices very rounded to sometimes slightlymucronate.

NEWLY OPENED FLOWER

The under surface of the outer petals is between 155A and 155D. Theupper surface of the outer petals is between 155A and 155D sometimesvery lightly suffused and very finely edged with between 56D and 62D. Atthe point where the petal attaches, there is a moderately small zone ofbetween 150D and 145D.

The under surface of the intermediate petals is between 155A and 155D.The upper surface of the intermediate petals is between 155A and 155Dsometimes lightly suffused between 56D and 62D and sometimes irregularlymarked with as dark as between 55C and 62C. At the point where the petalattaches, there is a moderately small zone of between 150D and 145D.

The under surface of the inner petals is between 155A and 155D. Theupper surface of the inner petals is between 155A and 155D oftenmoderately suffused with between 55D and 62C and often irregularlymarked with as dark as between 55A and 63B. At the point where the petalattaches, there is a moderately small zone of between 150D and 145D.

The under surface of the innermost petals and petaloids, is between 155Aand 155D. The upper surface of the innermost petals and petaloids isbetween 155A and 155D usually deeply suffused with between 55C and 62Band usually irregularly marked with as dark as between 55A and 63B. Atthe point where the petaloid attaches, there is a moderately small zoneof between 150D and 145D.

The general tonality of the newly opened flower is between 155A and 155Don the outer and intermediate petals suffusing to between 55D and 62C onthe inner petals and usually irregularly marked with as deep as between55A and 63B on the innermost petals and petaloids.

THREE DAY OLD FLOWER

The under and upper surface of the outer petals is between 155A and157D. At the point where the petal attaches, there is no zone ofdifferent coloration. The under surface of the intermediate petals isbetween 155A and 155D. The upper surface of the intermediate petals isbetween 155A and 155D sometimes lightly suffused with between 56D and62D and sometimes irregularly marked with as dark as between 55C and62C. At the point where the petal attaches, there is no zone ofdifferent coloration.

The under surface of the inner petals is between 155A and 155D. Theupper surface of the inner petals is between 155A and 155D oftenmoderately suffused with between 56A and 62 C and often irregularlymarked with as dark as between 55B and 63B. At the point where the petalattaches, there is no zone of different coloration.

The under surface of the innermost petals and petaloids is between 155Aand 155D. The upper surface of the innermost petals and petaloids isbetween 155A and 155D usually deeply suffused with between 55C and 62Band usually irregularly marked with as dark as between 55B and 63C. Atthe point where the petal attaches, there is no zone of differentcoloration.

The general tonality of the newly opened flower is between 155A and 157Don the outer petals, between 155A and 155D on the intermediate petalssuffusing to between 56A and 62C on the inner petals and usuallyirregularly marked with as deep as between 55B and 63C on the innermostpetals and petaloids.

On the spent bloom, the petals usually persist. The white portion of theouter and intermediate petals picks up more green tones to as dark asbetween 157C and 157D before dropping away.

In October in Upland, Calif., blooms on the bush growing outdoorsgenerally last about five or more days. Cut roses from plants grownoutdoors and kept at normal indoor living temperatures generally lastabout five or more days.

MALE REPRODUCTIVE ORGANS

Stamens are average to many in number (approximately 120) and arearranged regularly about the pistil; a few are mixed with petaloids. Thefilaments are of irregular lengths, most with anthers. Filaments arenear 1C. The anthers are medium in size for the class and all openapproximately at the same time. Anther color is near 16B when immatureand near 166B at maturity. Pollen is moderately abundant and near 12D incolor.

FEMALE REPRODUCTIVE ORGANS

Pistils vary in number (approximately 70). The styles are moderatelyeven, short to average in length, somewhat thin to average in caliper,and loosely bunched. Stigma color is between 160C and 6D. Style color isbetween 42A and 34A. Ovaries are usually all enclosed in the calyx.

Hips have not been observed on this variet when grown in Upland, Calif.

FOLIAGE

The compound leaves are usually comprised of three to five and sometimesseven leaflets and are borne abundantly. The leaves are about 7 to about12 cms. in length and about 6 to about 8 cms. in width at the widestpoint, moderately heavy in texture, and semi-glossy to somewhat rugosein finish. The leaflets are about 3.3 to about 5.2 cms. in length andabout 1.7 to about 3.8 cms. in width at the widest point, broadly ovalin shape with acute to somewhat acuminate apices and acute bases. Theirmargins are sometimes simply to often doubly serrate.

The upper surface of the mature leaf is between 147A and 139A. The undersurface of the mature leaf is between 147B and 138A. The upper surfaceof the young leaf is between 144A and 146B, sometimes suffused withbetween 183A and 187B. The under surface of the young leaf is between144B and 146C, sometimes heavily suffused with between 183A and 187B.

The rachis is moderately heavy in caliper and somewhat rough. The upperside is moderately grooved with many stipitate glands on the edges ofthe grooves. The under side of the rachis iis very rough with a fewstipitate glands and many irregularly sized small pickles distributedalong the full length. Prickle shape and coloration is similar to theprickles on the new growth. Rachis color is between 144A and 146B. Theedges of the grooves are sometimes suffused with between 183A and 187B.

The stipules are about 1.7 to about 2.3 cms. in length, of medium widthand with medium length straight point that usually turn out at an angleof more than 45 degrees.

The plant displays an above average degree of resistance to powderymildew and rust as compared to other commercial varieties grown undercomparable conditions in Upland, Calif.

GROWTH

The plant has a bushy upright medium height growth habit (about 100 toabout 150 cms. in height and about 80 to about 120 cms. spread at thewidest point), with very full branching. It displays very vigorousgrowth and the canes are of medium to heavy caliper for the class.

The color of the major stems is between 146C and 152A. They bear severallarge prickles which are about 0.7 to about 1.3 cms. in length. Thelarge prickles are almost straight angled very slightly downward with asomewhat long narrow oval shaped base; prickle color is between 164B and165C. The major stem bears few small prickles of similar shape andcoloration.

The color of the branches is between 146A and 137C. They bear many largeprickles which are of similar size and shape to the large prickles onthe major stems; prickle color is between 160B and 162C, sometimeslightly suffused with near 174A. The branches bear few many smallprickles of similar shape and coloration.

The color of the new shoots is between 144A and 146B, sometimes suffusedwith between 183A and 187B. They bear many large prickles which are ofsimilar size and shape to the large prickles on the major stems; pricklecolor is between 160B and 162C. The shoots bear many small prickles ofsimilar shape and coloration.

I claim:
 1. A new and distinct variety Floribunda rose plantsubstantially as described and illustrated herein.